CBI to seek statement of Abhishek Verma`s associat

New Delhi: In what could spell trouble for alleged arms agent Abhishek Verma, the CBI would formally seek cooperation of his long term associate C Edmonds Allen in its probe against Verma.

CBI had booked Verma in a fresh case alleging that he took USD 530,000 from Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (RAD) on the promise that he would use his influence to stall blacklisting proceedings initiated by the government against it after the Ordnance Factory Board scam had surfaced.

Allen, who is cooperating with the CBI in an "informal" manner, will be approached to record his statement as per the requirements of legal provisions here, the agency sources said.

The sources said his statement would be crucial in corroborating the claims made by the agency and would bolster the case of CBI which is so far relying on crucial set of documents received by it from various sources.

The CBI sources said Allen was a majority stake holder in Ganton USA and Ganton India, which were alleged to be front companies of Abhishek Verma. Verma`s Romanian Ancia Neascu was a Director in Ganton India.

The agency is also likely to send Letters Rogatory to Switzerland seeking details of Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (RAD) which is based in Zurich, they said.

Sources said Verma was promised an alleged bribe of USD five million for stalling the blacklisting of RAD and had received USD 5.30 lakh as advance with "taxes" which were routed through Ganton USA headed by Allen.

Recently, Verma had moved a Delhi court with a complaint against his former partner Allen accusing him of cheating him of Rs 55 crore and forging documents and emails to defame him.

Allen had filed the complaint with the CBI Director and other top officials alleging Verma received funds from RAD for bailing it out.